January Newsletter

Dubuque Ranked 6th
in best places to travel
for business in 2017
Building Blocks for Success:
Pigott Supply Company &
L.May Eatery and Catering
2017 Legislative
Kickoff

2017
January
Table of Contents
2 Dancing with the Stars 2017
3
8 one and done
9 legislative luncheon
11 building blocks for success
13 member news
15 around the watercooler
17 Forecast Luncheon 2017
19 Chamber Calendar
Movers, Shakers and newsmakers
Visit us online at
www.dubuquechamber.com
3
Dr. Heyo Tjarks proudly displays a thank you card drawn by a
young boy who received dental care at the free oral health
clinic that was set up at the Five Flags Center on September
23 and 24, 2016. A community of dentists, led by Dr. Heyo
Tjark came together to collectively volunteer their services to
nearly 1,400 patients and provide close to 1 million dollars in
free oral healthcare to those who would not otherwise be
able to afford it.
3
13 9
11
8
On the Cover:
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2017
Forecast Luncheon on Thursday, January 12 at the Grand
River Center. Business leaders presented a forecast of their
respective industries. (from left to right) Gretchen Brown,
Non Profits; Kurt Strand, Workforce/Education; Jodi Faustlin,
Healthcare; Tut Fuller, Finance; Pam Mumm, Small Business;
and CJ Pape, Manufacturing.

The Dubuque Area Chamber presents
Tickets
On Sale
Now!
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Five Flags Center | 405 Main Street | Dubuque, IA
Reception 6:00pm | Showtime 7:00pm
$50.00 per person | Five Flags Box Office | 563.589.4254
Join the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce for Dancing with the Stars Dubuque Style 2017!

2016
Movers, Shak

ers, & Newsmakers

Movers, Shakers
The Dubuque Area Chamber
of Commerce hosted its first
Movers, Shakers and Newsmakers
Luncheon on Thursday,
December 15 at the Hotel
Julien. This event honored
20 of the Dubuque area’s top
individuals who have made
an impact in our community,
personally or professionally.
These people are heroes,
public servants, young professionals,
rising stars, legacy
leaders, change agents, and
visionaries. They have inspired
us, engaged us, motivated us
and challenged us by making
a difference in their businesses,
organizations, and in the
community. Some of these
honorees have only just begun
while others have realized the
culmination of a successful
career. In either case, their efforts
demonstrate leadership
by example.
John and Mary Gronen
Gronen Properties
nominees
Dr. Liang Chee Wee
Northeast Iowa Community College
Mayor Roy Buol
City of Dubuque
Councilman Luis Del Toro
City of Dubuque
Joe Hearn
Dupaco Community Credit Union
Stacey Hines
American Trust & Savings Bank
Tut Fuller
Dubuque Bank & Trust
Gary Gansemer
Hillcrest Family Services
Eric & Michael Gantz
Verena Street Coffee
Wayne Demmer
Dubuque County Supervisor
Keith Rahe
Dubuque Are Convention & Visitor Bureau
Dr. Heyo Tjarks
Dubque Dental Associates
Mike Callaghan, Lisa Bennett,
Tim Lary, & Josh Crowell
Radio Dubuque
Gretchen Brown
Stonehill Franciscan Services
Rob McDonald
A.Y. McDonald
Sharon Covey
Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA
Bobbi Earles
Loras College
Emily Goodmann & Erin Dragotto
Technori
Dr. Bert Davis
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Jerry Enzler
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

, & Newsmakers
top 10
Our first honoree, Dr. Liang
Chee Wee, President of NICC,
is known for his expertise and
wisdom that have won him
praise and international recognition.
He is an integral fixture
in Dubuque’s economic efforts
working to secure a prosperous
future for the community and
individuals he serves.
In his new leadership role, Lynn
“Tut” Fuller of Dubuque Bank &
Trust, is bringing new ideas and
energy to attracting and retaining
talent for his organization
and is shaping a new culture
and environment.
Our next Mover and Shaker,
Councilman Luis Del Toro, is
challenging what some consider
the status quo, asking questions
and digging deeper into
issues important to his constituents.
As a newly elected official
he is shaking things up and
taking the cues from the platform
that got him elected.
Our next top ten recipient is Jerry
Enzler, National Mississippi River
Museum. His vision was the
catalyst that put Dubuque on the
map by looking at what was in
our own front yard and capitalizing
on it. The economic engine
that is the tourism industry in
Dubuque is the result of his vision
that made the National Mississippi
River Museum a reality.
Visionary leader, Mayor Roy Buol,
brought the citizens of Dubuque
together around an innovative
vision making Dubuque an international
sensation with a community
model to be envied and emulated.
No truer words may have
ever been said than his campaign
running slogan, “The next 5 years
will determine the next 50”.
Keith Rahe, President of the
Dubuque Convention and Visitors
Bureau is an accomplished
leader in his field and is a tourism
industry professional that has
achieved and exemplifies greatness
throughout his career.

Movers, Shakers, & Newsmakers
When it comes to making things
happen it takes someone with
guts, vision and, most of all,
someone with a love and passion
for community. With millions of
dollars and multiple renovations
now complete, John and Mary
Gronen have taken a district that
lay empty and abandoned is
made it a thriving area for a new
Dubuque generation.
A community of dentists, led by
Dr. Heyo Tjarks, came together to
collectively volunteer their services
to nearly 1,400 patients and
provide close to 1 million dollars
in free oral healthcare to those
who would not otherwise be able
to afford it.
The definition of a hero is someone
who places others above
themselves. Mike Callaghan, Josh
Crowell, Tim Lary and Lisa Bennett,
radio personalities for Radio
Dubuque, made sure the occupants
of a burning building on
Loras campus were led to safety.
Do to their selfless actions the
incident was handled without loss
of life.
Young professionals Emily Goodmann
and Erin Dragotto, took
their vision of bringing Technori
to Dubuque and have passionately
shared it with people who
would help them achieve their
goals. Technori is an organization
that creates momentum for
startups by building a community
around innovation that enables
early stage companies to get in
front of members of the community
to share their story and
connect with future customers,
employees and investors!
The Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce would like to thank
our honorees, attendees and our
Ultimate Sponsors; Hotel Julien,
Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena,
Medical Associates, John Deere
Dubuque Works, TH Media and
TAG Communications, for making
the event a huge success. Thank
you to Fourge Social for the highlight
video of our nominees.
Congratulations to all our honorees.
Your achievements define
what it means to be a mover,
shaker and newsmaker in 2016.
Thank you for your passion, dedication,
and commitment to our
community!

The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
announces One and Done. With this campaign
we want to engage current members by having
them refer at least one new member that is not
currently affiliated with the Chamber. With
your referral you will be entered to win prizes
in our monthly drawing You win, the Chamber
wins and area businesses win!
Where Business Belongs
www.dubuqueChamber.com
563.557.9200

The Dubuque Area Chamber Presents
2017
Legislative
Luncheon
j a n u a ry 4 ,
2 0 1 7

Over 100 Chamber members attended the Legislative
Luncheon on January 5, 2016 where our legislators presented
their predictions for this year’s legislative session. As the
voice of business in the Dubuque area, the Dubuque Area
Chamber of Commerce is committed to keeping our region
competitive, improving the business climate and advancing
policies that create a more prosperous Dubuque.
We were joined by (top right to bottom) Senator Pam Jochum,
Senator Tod Bowman, Rep. Finkenaur, Rep. Isenhart and Rep.
Lundgren. They are Dubuque’s watchful eyes at the capitol
and are always available for your questions. Let them hear
from you!
To view a copy of the 2017 Legislative Agenda click here.

Building Blocks for S
Been around the block
L. May Eatery & Catering
1072 Main St., Dubuque
Who started the company?
Siblings E.J Droessler & Lea Droessler
When did your business open?
2007 and entering 10th year
Number of employees? 40
Hours of operation? Sunday, Monday & Thursday
open 4:30-9pm, Friday and Saturday 4:30-10pm,
closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
What does your company do and what need
does this meet in the community? We offer
the freshest fare and cocktails, extensive wine
and craft beer selection, and a warm, welcoming
venue. The owners are onsite, it’s very
important to us that L.May guests feel at home
here

uccess
new kid on the block
Pigott Supply Company
Who started the company? Pigott Supply
Company was started by Frederic Pigott in
1942. Pigott continues to be a family owned
business with locations in Des Moines, Cedar
Rapids, Davenport and, most recently,
Dubuque.
How many years have you been in business?
Since 1942 – 75 years in 2017
How long have you been at this location? Our
Dubuque showroom opened its doors in the
fall of 2016. We have been doing business
across the state for years but are happy to now
have a home in the Dubuque area to better
serve the state. Our Dubuque showroom
highlights a variety of product offerings from
Herman Miller collection pieces to Chilewich
tabletop and flooring designs.
Hours of operation? Our standard showroom
hours are 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday
with select weekend hours in the Dubuque
showroom.
What does your company do and what need
does this meet in the community? Pigott is a
full service commercial interior design firm
creating great places to work, learn, heal, and
live. Pigott has proudly been partnered with
Herman Miller since 1970, bringing classic and
reliable product solutions to the state of Iowa.
Pigott offers a comprehensive package of
in-house services to support all facility-related
needs including space planning and design,
workplace consulting, project management,
delivery, installation, asset and inventory
management, move management and product
maintenance. At our forefront, Pigott is
more than a furniture vendor, we are a partner.
We are dedicated to each project, no
matter the size, to ensure the best long-term
solution for your space. We believe that space
can be a powerful tool that not only reflects
who you are, but who you are aspiring to
become.
Why was it important to your company to be
Chamber members? By joining the Dubuque
Chamber, we can do more than network, we
are able to expand friendships, advocates and
grow meaningful relationships in the community.
We are committed to our communities
and this is one of the best ways to root ourselves
in the rich history that the Dubuque
community has to offer.
Thank you to all who have made us feel so
welcome in the area. We look forward to
serving the Dubuque community for years to
come.
Number of employees? Over 95 team members
across the state.

member
News
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing current and noteworthy
information of relevance to tri-state area businesses. If you would like more information on
any of the items in our news section view our webpage at www.dubuquechamber.com/-
press-room/member-press-releases/
New Small Employer Health
Reimbursement arrangement
New eligible HRA
On December 13, 2016, President
Obama signed the 21st Century Cures
Act into law, which establishes a new
qualified small employer health reimbursement
arrangement (HRA) that
would reimburse employees for qualified
medical expenses. The new eligible
HRA would be funded solely by the
employer through reimbursing
employees for qualified medical
expenses, including certain health
premiums.
Dubuque Ranked 6th
In Best Places to Travel For Business in 2017
U.S. employees take more than 488 million business trips every year –
an average of 1.3 million trips every day. 400 metro- and micropolitan
areas across the U.S. were ranked to determine just where the best
places for business travelers are. Each area was evaluated on metrics
like amenities, commute time, number of businesses and more and
Dubuque came in at number 6!
Eagle Pointe Place
wins 2017 best of assisted living award
Eagle Pointe Place, an Enlivant community
and local provider of senior care
services, is proud to announce that it
has been honored with 2017 Best of
Senior Living Awards from SeniorAdvisor.com,
the largest ratings and reviews
site for senior care and services in
North America. This is the second year
in a row that the community has
received this reward.

CEC recognized in top 50
CEC, a nationally recognized systems
and technology integrator based in
Hiawatha, IA, is excited to announce
that, for the 10th consecutive year, it
has been named to the SCN Top 50
Systems Integrators List.
Every year, SCN identifies 50 U.S.
integration firms that go above and
beyond to set the standard for other
integrators. Ranked by projected AV
systems integration revenue, the list is
a compilation of audiovisual integrators
that demonstrated business
stability, financial responsibility, and
growth in 2016. This year, CEC placed
at No. 37 on the list.
10 week
wellness
challenge
LiveHealthy Iowa presents
10 Week Wellness Challenge,
a team based physical
activity and weight loss
program designed to help
you achieve your health and
wellness goals.
Crawford Company Cares
For the third year in a row, Crawford
North, a division of Crawford Company,
has awarded a total of $2,250 to
three non-profits dedicated to service
and making positive impact in the
region.
Thirty Eight area non-profit organizations
were nominated through the
Crawford Cares Program and over
3,000 votes were cast. Finalists were
chosen from entries nominated by
Dubuque region residents.
Do you have news ?
Submit your news for the next issue
Would you like to see the latest and
greatest news from your business
in Chamber @WORK? Submit your
news to the Dubuque Area Chamber
at office@dubuquechamber.com
and include the word
“newsletter” in the subject line.

REFLECTING OUR
How Do You Feel The
INTO YOUR B
and your sales versus oth
ed sevens
Owner, RF2 Furniture Warehouse
“In Dubuque, we get lots of visitors over the holidays coming to see their families that will stop
in the store. Over the last couple of years, we’ve noticed repeat out of town customers coming
in and bringing their families. It’s a good feeling when people go out of the way just to visit us
while they’re in town.”
kim tully
Manager/Interior Designer, Smith Home Gallery
“We feel this time of year is a bit busier starting in October through now with people looking to
decorate their homes for the holidays. People are entertaining much more this time of year, and
they want their homes to be more inviting, and updated. Whether it is getting new upholstery, or a
new dining room set, it sets the stage for a Thanksgiving dinner, or a Christmas open house. We have
a lot of last minute shoppers looking for unique gifts for their special someone.”
tom rauen
Owner, Envision Sports Design
“During the holidays, people are in the giving spirit and in buying mode. They are ready to buy gifts an
other things to give to employees, friends, family, and top clients.”
-Tom Rauen, Owner, Envision

d
THE HOLIDAYS
y Impacted Traffic
USINESS
er times of the year?

2017 for
Each year the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce brings together members for an insightful
luncheon where ideas, trends, opportunities and anticipated changes are forecasted for the
upcoming year. This year’s esteemed leaders cover the Education, Finance, Healthcare, Small
Business and Manufacturing sectors.
Manufacturing
CJ Pape
Director of Manufacturing Operations
Rite-Hite
Healthcare
Jodi Faustlin
CEO
Grand River Medical Group & Tri-State
Independent Physicians Association
Workforce/Education
Kurt Strand
Board Chair
Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation

ecast luncheon
Non Profits
Gretchen Brown
CEO
Stonehill Franciscan Services
Finance
Tut Fuller
Market President
Dubuque Bank & Trust
Small Business
Pamela Mumm
Owner
MaxiMumm Effect

January 17
Decmeber 7
January 18
January 19
January 2017
8:30am - 9:30am
B2B Referral Group
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
Business After Hours
Smith Chamber Home Gallery Boardroom
5:30pm - 7:00pm
YP Monthly Luncheon
Hotel Julien Dubuque
11:45pm - 1:00pm
B2B Referral Group
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
Ribbon Cutting
Sam’s Club 10 Year Anniversary
7:30am - 8:30am
January 24
Decmeber 7
January 31
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
B2B Referral Group
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Perkins Restaurant
5:30pm - 7:00pm
January 26
Decmeber 7
Decmeber 7
FEbruary1
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
B2B Referral Group
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
Decmeber 7
8:30am - 9:30am
B2B Referral Group
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Last Load Inc
5:30pm - 7:00pm
8:30am - 9:30am
Community Connections
Chamber Boardroom
8:30am - 9:30am
and more please visit our calendar at
www.dubuquechamber.com/events/
January 20
Power Hour
Hotel Julien Dubuque
7:30am - 8:30am